Abstract
In this article, the root causes of “identity conflicts” are analyzed from a cultural studies perspective, using the examples of international ethno-political conflicts in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Historical models for ensuring social stability and managing multicultural environments are critically reviewed, specifically focusing on the assimilation-based “melting pot” concept in the United States and its limitations related to the WASP ideological code. Furthermore, the paradoxical risks of modern cultural pluralism and multicultural policies, such as social fragmentation and self-isolation, are highlighted, while justifying the advantages of the interculturalism approach, which fosters active intercultural dialogue and cooperation as a viable alternative.
The cultural dimension of globalization requires that the analysis of contemporary trends in the development of cultural diversity take into account such factors as the internal dynamics of culture, intercultural interaction, and the formation of a transnational cultural space. In this process, relationships between cultures are interpreted not only from the perspectives of assimilation or confrontation but also through conceptual approaches such as hybridity, transculturality, and intercultural cooperation. As a result, the development of cultural diversity is characterized not by the mutual negation of cultures, but by their mutual enrichment and the emergence of new cultural forms.